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Siam (Thai: สยาม), officially the Kingdom of Siam (Thai: ราชอาณาจักรสยาม), is a sovereign state at the center of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia. Its capital and the most populous city is Bangkok. It is bordered to the northwest by the Republic of Burma, to the north by a portion of the Qing Empire administrated by the Yunnan Clique, to the east by the colony of German Indochina, to the south by the Gulf of Siam and German-occupied Malaya, and to the west by the Andaman Sea. Its maritime boundaries include Dutch East Indies and Azad Hind across the Andaman Sea to the southwest.

History[]

The emergence of the Modern Nation (1868–1910)[]

Real reform occurred during the reign of Chulalongkorn (Rama V, r. 1868–1910). After his formal enthronement in 1873, he announced reforms of the judiciary, state finance, and the political structure. An anti-reform revolt was suppressed in 1874, after which Chulalongkorn embarked on less radical approaches. In time, he ordered the gradual elimination of slavery and corvée labor. He introduced currency-based taxes and a conscription-based regular army. In 1893 a centralized state administration replaced the semi-feudal provincial administration. The regime established European-style schools for children of the royal family and sent government officials, promising civil servants, and military officers to Europe for further education. The first railroad line was opened between Bangkok and Ayutthaya in 1897 and extended farther north in 1901 and 1909. To the south, rail connections were made in 1903, linking with British rail lines in Malaya. During this time, British and French colonial advances in Southeast Asia posed serious threats to Siam’s independence and forced the kingdom to relinquish its claims in Cambodia, Laos, and the northern Malay states. Although much diminished in territory by the 1910s, Siam preserved its independence, and the kingdom served as a buffer state between the British and French colonies. During this time, anti-Chinese sentiments came to the fore. About 10 percent of the population was Chinese, and ethnic Chinese largely controlled many government positions, the rice trade, and other enterprises, much to the resentment of the native Thai.

ThailandWithFlags

Territorial losses to western powers during the pre-Weltkrieg era by year

Early Reforms & Coup Attempt (1910–1917)[]

King Vajiravudh (Rama VI, r. 1910–1925), a Sandhurst-graduated, spent is Crown Prince years reorganized the Siamese military and established military academies. Following his coronation, his first act was the establishment of various western-style modern education centers such as the Royal Pages College and Chulalongkorn Academy for Civil Officials (which later turned into Vajiravudh College and Chulalongkorn University respectively). He also improved Siamese healthcare systems and set up some of the earliest public hospitals in Siam, Vajira Hospital in 1912, and Chulalongkorn Hospital in 1914. Siam also saw the construction of Don Mueang Airport to accommodate its newly created Siamese Air Corps in 1914.

Radicals expected a new constitution upon the coronation of Vajiravudh. However, no constitution was forthcoming. The fall of the old Qing Empire in 1911 prompted Siamese radicals to act. The coup was planned for 1 April 1912—the traditional Siamese New Years Day. They planned to elevate one of Vajiravudh's brothers to be the first President of Siam. They believed that, if the absolute monarchy were removed, Siam would achieve modernization as in Japan under Emperor Taishō. The coup plan was leaked by an insider and Prince Chakrabongse arrested all the conspirators. Their sentences were severe, ranging from execution to long-term imprisonment. However, Vajiravudh rescinded the punishments and released the plotters, saying that what they did was for the sake of the kingdom.

Siamese participation in the Weltkrieg (1919–1921)[]

After considering all available possibilities, Vajiravudh decided that the best option for Siam was to join the Central Powers. In early 1919 French Indochina was invaded, and Siam made considerable gains along the front before being stopped by the ceasefire between Germany and France on the 4th of October. This allowed the kingdom to regain Champassak and the Inner Cambodian lands along the Mekong line. The situation against the British in the Malaya and Burma front was merely a stalemate as neither side had sufficient resources or manpower to commit to a proper war. The effect of prolonged war against the British Empire and the Siamese drought of 1919–1920 resulted in rice shortages, and the economy was further crippled by the Chinese-Siamese Bank going bankrupt in 1921. Siam was only saved by the timely Peace with Honour and the amendment of the Bowring Treaty led by Germany to redress the unequal treaties imposed by Western powers in the 19th century.

Post-Weltkrieg Problems (1921–1928)[]

The last four years of Vajiravudh's reign saw the completion of the North-South railway line from Narathiwat to Chiang Mai and the first cases of an Islamic insurgency in its southern province. The latter pushed him to issue the 6 principle declaration emphasizing local freedom and tax measures for the Muslim majority area. During the 1925 British Revolution, Siam was permitted by the German government to "take care of local unrest" in the Northern half of the British-controlled Malay peninsular, ensuring Siamese de facto control of the region.

In 1924, Vajiravudh promulgated his Law of Succession, which has since become the code for Chakri dynasty successions. According to the law, the throne would be passed to the king's sons and grandsons. However, in the case of Vajiravudh who had no sons, the throne would pass to his eldest "true" brother, in this case Prajadhipok (Rama VII) who shared the same mother, Queen Saovabha. In hopes of benefiting the German great economic growth in the 1930s, the new king Prajadhipok began a slow process of market realignment to the Berlin Stock Market which helped to attract foreign German investors, and thus manage to stabilize the economy while avoiding the full effect of the American economic depression.

The 36th Siamese-Burmese War & its aftermath (1928–1936)[]

1919-siamese-troops-europe-wwiC

Siamese troops en-routing to Burma, 1928

In 1925, Burma broke free from British rule as part of the great Indian Revolt. Already as soon as the Burmese had declared their own republic, Siam had plans to invade the fledgeling nation, but cooler ultimately heads prevailed and Siam even decided to recognise the Republic and send material support.

However only shortly after their independence, Burma erupted into civil war as ethnic minorities such as the Karen people, who once were protected by the British, rose up against the nationalist government. Across the border, the Siamese watched wearily with the sounds of gunfire and explosions rattling in the distance. However, when Siamese citizens died during Burmese artillery bombing near the border in 1928, Siam decided that it was time to strike. War was declared, an thus the 36th Siamese-Burmese War began.

Early in the war Siam made a series of powerful initial pushes into Burma, easily seizing the thin strip of land that connects the Lower Burmese region of Tenasserim to the rest of the country. Kawthaung fell shortly afterwards. The Siamese Northwestern Army pushed into the Shan states and some Shan princes pledged their loyalty to the invaders. In the South, the city of Moulmein fell to Siamese as well. Eventually however, the Siamese were temporarily at the northern part of the Salween River forcing them to slow down and consolidate their hold over the Lower Shan States.

Siam had plans to push even further into Burma in 1929, but their costly occupation in the West caused unrest in the newly-gained territories in the South and East. Germany, scared about a potential revolt that could swap over to their own Indochinese colonies and Japan, worried about their investments in Siam, therefore decided to step in and negotiated a peace treaty. In the Treaty of Moulmein, Siam was allowed to annex the new Unified Former Thai Territories, as well as the districts of Möngmaü and Mehsakun in Mawkmai of the southern Shan states as well as part of Kantarawadi in the Karenni states which were soon integrated into the Federated Shan Territories. Lower Burma, including the cities of Moulmein and Kawthaung were placed under occupation, with no definitive agreement over what to do with them, beside some vague promises from the Japanese and the Germans about potentially holding a plebiscite, or splitting off the Thai portions of Kawthaung for Siam to annex. Overall, there was no easy way to dislodge the Siamese military from Lower Burma that wouldn’t endanger the peace treaty in its entirety. Thus, the Salween River became the new natural border between Burma and Siam.

Since the end of the war, Siam enjoys a relatively calm time of peace, stability and economic prosperity. With the growing movement among the Siamese intelligentsia calling for the adoption of the Constitutional Monarchy model used by most of the civilized nation, King Prajadhipok aims to unveil the first constitution of Siam, the brainchild of both the king himself and Francis Bowes Sayre Sr. (Siam's representative on the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague) on 21st April 1936, the 154th anniversary of Bangkok becoming the kingdom's capital.

Politics[]

Supreme Council of State of Siam[]

The Supreme Council of State of Siam (Thai: อภิรัฐมนตรีสภา) was an advisory and legislative council established by His Majesty King Prajadhipok of Siam (Rama VII). The Eton and Sandhurst educated monarch wished to create a council similar to a cabinet, where the most important government officials could meet to decide on state affairs. The Council was founded on 28 November 1925 by Royal Command. Prajadhipok only succeeded to the throne three days earlier, after the death of his brother Vajiravudh on the 25th of November 1925.

The Council was composed of 5 members, each a prince of the Chakri Dynasty who had held ministerial positions during the reigns of King Rama V and Rama VI (Prajadhipok’s father and older brother). The Councillors were:

King Prajadhipok portrait photograph

King Prajadhipok, the seventh King of the Chakri Dynasty, came to the throne in 1925.

Name
Prince Panurangsi Sawangwong, Krom Phraya Panupanthuwonh Woradet
Prince Paribatra Sukhumbhand, Prince of Nakorn Sawan
Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong
Prince Damrong Rajanubhab
Prince Kittiyakorn Worralak, Prince of Chanthaburi

The Council was not the only organ of government at the time. The King also had a Privy Council (Thai: สภากรรมการองคมนตรี) and a Council of Secretaries (Thai: เสนาบดีสภา). However, the Supreme Council was regarded as the most important. Prince Paripatra was the most dominant member of the Council of State as a regent and Minister of the Interior.

The Council's establishment by the new king, so soon after the previous king's death demonstrated his lack of self-confidence and the strong grip over the government various members of the dynasty held. Prajadhipok was the youngest son of King Chulalongkorn, the youngest prince of his generation. Senior princes (Prajadhipok's uncles and older brothers) have dominated the running of the government since the end of the 19th century and were unwilling to lessen their grip on power. Prajadhipok acquiesces to most of their demands and is willing to pass off many responsibilities to the council. The appointment of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab to the council also signaled his return to government, having been stripped of all offices by Vajiravudh in 1915.

Current Siamese Setting for KR4 1936 Start[]

Conscription Law: Limited Conscription
Economic Law: Civilian Economy
Trade Law: Export Focus
Head of Government: King Rama VII
Foreign Minister: Mom Chao Traitotpraphan Tevakul
Economy Minister: Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong
Security Minister: Prince Paribatra Sukhumbhand, Prince of Nakorn Sawan
Intelligence Minister: Prince Kittiyakorn Worralak, Prince of Chantaburi


Military[]

Army[]

The Royal Siamese Army (กองทัพบกสยาม: Korngthap Bok Sayam) is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. It is the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Siamese Armed Forces. The army was formed in 1874, partly as a response to new security threats following the 1855 Bowring Treaty with Britain, which opened the country for international trade.

Fielding quite an impressive panoply of Weltkrieg era surplus, the small but well-equipped army is organized into 5 army areas:

  • First Army—headquartered in Bangkok and is responsible for the country's western and central provinces including the capital city.
  • Second Army—headquartered in Nakhon Ratchasima and is responsible for the northeastern quadrant.
  • Third Army—headquartered in Phitsanulok, responsible for the northern and northwestern parts of the kingdom.
  • Fourth Army—headquartered in Nakhon Si Thammarat, responsible for southern parts of the kingdom below the Kra Isthmus.
  • Fifth Army—headquartered in Phra Tabong, responsible for the Eastern coast of the Kingdom and the Khamen autonomous area.

The King's Guard forms several separate regiments within these formations.

Navy[]

Navy-submarines

HSMS Wirun, circa 1934

Separated from the RSA administration in 1887, the Royal Siamese Navy (ราชนาวีสยาม: Ratchanavi Sayam) was mostly dominated by pre-Weltkrieg era British-made destroyers during the war. The RSN lost two destroyers in the Battle of Koh Pha-Ngan against the better-equipped British forces and remain inactive until 1921 when the Peace with Honour came into effect.

Aiming to avoid the humiliating defeat ever again; Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon's undertook substantialnaval reform in the early 1920s. Three Matchanu-class submarines, two Naresuan-class heavy cruisers, and two Mahachakri-class destroyers were added to the fleet. Two more Rattanakosin-class destroyers would be procured in 1929 to replace older ones. There is also a small marine detachment.

Air Force[]

Royal Siamese Aeronautical Service (กรมอากาศยานทหารบก: Krom Arkartsayan Taharn Bok) is a moderately-well equipped force with relatively modern aircraft. Consist of 171 fighter planes & 77 bombers; a mixture of several French, American, and the locally-made ones.

After seeing the first aircraft demonstration in Bangkok, King Rama VI was sufficiently impressed that on 28 February 1912 he sent three Army officers to France to learn to fly. After receiving their wings and qualification, the officers returned to Siam in November 1913, bringing with them eight aircraft: four Breguets and four Nieuport IVs). In March 1914, Thai aviation moved from Sapathum to Don Mueang then north of Bangkok.

20-2

Bomber Type-2 Boripatr

The RSAS saw their first combat during the Weltkrieg in 1919 during the Raid of Phnom Penh and proved to be a crucial asset to the war effort as the French colonial garrisons were under-armed at that time. However, they achieved their first air-to-air-victories in dogfights against the Royal Air Force over Penang in the Malaya front.

Foreign Relations[]

the Kingdom of Siam has friendly relations with the German Empire, the Empire of Japan, and the United States of America

The Kingdom also maintains an intense rivalry with Burma, and has poor relations with the Yunnan Clique, and the Azad Hind.

Economy[]

While looking quite prosperous from the outside - Siam reliant heavily on investments and trade ties with Germany. Its industry in general is fragile with products such as rice, sugar and timber being the main exports.

Nationalistic feeling among the ethnic minorities is also on the rise which might result in troublesome separatist movements in the future. The inflated bureaucratic system from the 1920s siphoned off much taxes needed for development while bandits still run wild in the fringe areas.

Culture[]

Input here.

See also[]

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